nightflyer

I just purchased a 1971 C3 LS-5 Coupe yesterday and then drove it 400 miles home. During the drive I was just thinking how far Chevrolet has come since the manufacture of my C3 and then coming home and driving my 11 ZR1. Sure this can be said for all manufactures, but driving the old then the new the same day was a great comparison and the C3 was/is a great car. Unfortunately I let my wife drive it and she wants to park her C5 and take over the C3! Just to let you know the C3's 454/365 HP engine, cold factory A/C, auto and PW performed flawlessly during the drive. The car now has only 54,000 miles on it and is a real head turner and is only going to get nicer.

harrydunn

Would love to see some pics in the C3 section.

nightflyer

coming soon

ZR1Cat

Well, congrats on the new addition to the family. Big blocks certainly ruled for decades and still sound the best.

nightflyer

I love the sound of this car, start it up, hear the cam working, see the car sitting there shaking and smelling the exhaust that only a carburetored engine can produce...life is good!! I have a set of side exhaust ordered..69 factory type...and that will be even better. I recently found out that 1969 is the only year GM offered the side exhaust on the later model C3's even though there are many C3's with them!! I'm sure I'll learn a lot more about this car in the coming days and months even though I owned a 1970 in 71!

Rons65

Sounds like a nice addition to your garage!

I have a 67 427 convertible in the garage next to my 10 ZR1. Driving one and then driving the other is quite different with 43 years of technology gap between them to say the least. However, I love both of them and both make me smile when I drive them!

Life is good!

Ron

nightflyer

My first Corvette was a 64 Coupe and the C2's will always be close to my heart and of course your 67 Big Block was/is the best. Another C2 is in my future, but right now I'll spend my time, energy and money making this C3 as stunning..for it's age..as my ZR1 is..at least to me!!

Victory07

I had to google the 71 C3 LS-5 Coupe to see what it looked like and I had to google LS-5 engine to see the specs.

Both are WOW. Congrats!

nightflyer

Thanks, it's a 42 year old car and sitting in it, driving it it's hard to believe that what we are driving now evolved from it. Can you imagine 40 years from now what people will think of our ZR1's and what the future ZR1's will be. It would be nice to be around to see that!

Gary '09 C6

congrats--nice find !

OnPoint

Indeed.

Michael ZR1

Sounds fantastic

barduch

Wow, congratulations on a great acquisition. Just my opinion but the C3 was the last elegant corvette design up until the C6 was introduced. Great choice and it has to be an eye opener to hop from one to the other. The comparison might be similar to comparing the original 1970 Pan Am 747 cockpit and technology to the one that you now fly for Big Brown. Powerplant and data processor technology has certainly come a long way to improve our vehicles and their efficiency.

Victory07

Yes and considering I'm 30 years old, that 42 year old car is 12 years older than I. That kindly explains my C3 ignorance.

I can't wait to see what evolves from today's performance cars. It's tough to imagine what else can be done to enhance the driver experience.

nightflyer

That is a good comparison 747-100 to a 747-400, I agree the metal bumper C3's were/are an elegant machine. Someday years from now people will be looking at our C6's and saying what a beautiful machine they were in their day. Looking at all of the Corvette generations, Chevrolet...for the most part has done an outstanding job o keeping these cars looking sexy.

C5kid

I took Fartpipe out for a ride in my C3 right before I sold it. LMFAO, he said "this is a death trap!!!" It felt like we were doing 100+mph but only goin 65. The last memory of that car before it went away.

nightflyer

That is a good memory to have. I drove mine for four hundred miles Monday night and I finally eased up to 75 MPH and like you said I thought I was going a hundred, but out driving around town I drive slow just to show off like all of us Corvette owner's are so famous for!!

wjnjr

I had one of those (LS5, M22 4sp, F41 susp) when they were new. Daily driver for 5yr and 100000mi. Fabulous car, cruise all day @ 100mph. Wish I'd never sold it. Enjoy!

nightflyer

Mine is an auto and at this time I don't know what suspension I have, but it is a cool car and I will enjoy it. Spent the day today replacing the leather seat covers with brand new ones identical to the ones I took off. I'm putting the factory side exhaust on it this week and then I'm going to enjoy it awhile. Thanks,

wjnjr

F41 aka gymkana suspension was optional. Consisted of different sway bars, springs and shocks. The original shocks are probably long gone but the springs should still be there. Easy way to tell is to look at the rear spring. F41 spring has 7 leaves, base spring has 9.

Lots more info and trivia in the C3 section, have fun!!